Zurich Airport

Continent: Europe

Country: Switzerland

Zurich Airport
Location	Zurich, Switzerland
IATA code	ZRH
ICAO code	LSZH
Airport type	Commercial
Website	[www.flughafen-zuerich.ch www.flughafen-zuerich.ch]
Overview map	[ ]
Communications
Tower	118.1
Ground	121.850 (North) 121.750 (South)
Clearance	121.800
Approach	118.000 (West via GIPOL) 120.750 (North/East) via AMIKI/RILAX 119.700 125.325 Final (rarely used):
Departure	125.950
ATIS	128.525 (phone: +41438162294)

Zurich airport is the only airport of the city of Zurich, the Swiss centre of finance and economy. The airport is located about 10 kilometers northeast of the city and can easily be reached by car, bus or train.

Today there are about 100 airlines offering almost 150 connections to every continent in the world except Australia. 17.3 million passengers were handled in 2004. In 2003 the new terminal, terminal E, also called "Midfield", was opened. Three runways, most of which are equipped with an ILS-system are providing a smoothly running service.

Runways, Terminals and their usage

Runways

Runway:	Length:	Equipment:	Usage:	In use:	Diagram:
10	2500m	-	Departing runway with winds from the east. No landings	rare
14	3300m	ILS	Main landing runway, no takeoffs	always
16	3700m	ILS	Main departing runway for heavies, rarely a landing	frequently
28	2500m	VORDME	Main departing runway, landings in the evening	always
32	3300m	-	Departing runway in the morning, no landings	rare
34	2700m	ILS	Landing rwy morning, sometimes heavy-TOs	medium

Because of many people living around the airport are complaining about the noise, the airport authority had to make a detailed concept of runway usage. It is listed in the following table. Of course changes can be made because of reasons like weather, so I recommend listening to the ATIS (128.525) before going spotting.

Weekdays (Mo-Fr)	Weekend, public holidays in southern Germany
06.00-07.00 Landing Rwy34 Departure Rwy32 07.00-21.00 Landing Rwy14 Departure Rwys 16&28 21.00-00.30 Landing Rwy28 Departure Rwys32&34	06.00-09.00 Landing Rwy34 Departure Rwy32 09.00-20.00 Landing Rwy14 Departure Rwys 16&28 20.00-00.30 Landing Rwy28 Departure Rwys32&34

Terminals and parking stands

The terminal area. Cutout of Spotting-Points graphic below

At Zurich airport there are three Terminals, Terminal 1 (former A), Terminal 2 (former B), Terminal E (former Midfield).

In the table below is listed which airplanes can be seen in which area.

Terminal 1 (A)		This terminal is mostly used by Swiss. Many longhaul flights (A332/A343) are being handled here aswell as some european flights (A32X, RJ). Besides Swiss sometimes other European carriers can be found here, for example BA. Best view from: Spotting Points 1 and 2
Terminal 2 (B)		Terminal 2 was closed when Terminal E was opened and the finger docks were demounted. Now this terminal is mostly being used to park longhaulers which stay for a longer time. For example SAA A342, Malasian B777, or the MNG A300F. On the southern side there are new stands for regional aircrafts (CRJs, ERJs, ...) which are served by bus. (Lufthansa, Alitalia, Air France) Best view from: Spotting Point 1
Terminal E (Midfield)		The terminal opened in 2003 is the point where all longhaul flights of foreign airlines are handled. (UAE, SIA, MAS, UAL, AAL, DAL, COA, ACA, KAL, SAA, JAL). Also there are some longhauls of Swiss (mostly to the USA) as well as most European carriers here.. Best view from: Spotting Point 2, but only the aircrafts on the western side of the terminal which is about 1/3 of all aircrafts.
Mike-Stands		South of Terminal 2 there are the Mike-Stands (designated C and D but served by Taxiway Mike). These are stands served by bus. On these stands mostly medium airliners (A32X, B737, MD8X) von DLH, SAS, AUA and IBE can be spotted. Best view from:: Spotting Point 1 (a little far away) and 5

Links

Until this article is finished, please take a look at the detailed spotting-description on www.planepics.org